Starting a Co-operative:
Business Plan Template
Irish Co-operative Organisation Society
(ICOS)
Document outlining the Business Plan for a proposed co-operative
Starting a Co-operative: Business Plan Template
The following document serves as a guide document only. It is an example of the questions
and thought process that the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) expects
prospective co-operatives to discuss prior to submitting an application for registration of a
new co-operative.
Proposed
Co-operative
Name
A suitable name must be chosen for the co-operative and the name must
include the words "Society" and "Limited".
Proposed
Registered Office
Address
Note: Cannot be a P.O. Box
Secretary Name
Phone Number
E-mail Address
Date
Name and Addresses of the Seven or More Special
Members
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 1
Co-operative
Outline & Business
Activities
Brief Outline of the History of the Enterprise. Outline the primary business
activities of the enterprise. Outline the common need and set out how
the proposed co-op aims to satisfy this need.
Co-operative
Purpose
What are the business objectives of the co-operative? Outline the
expected targets for the enterprise.
Year
Number of
Members
Expected Turnover
-€
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Management
Details
Has the proposed enterprise decided on a Management Team and Board
of Directors? If yes, please detail;
Accountant
Has the enterprise selected an Accountant and Auditor for the Enterprise?
If yes, please detail;
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 2
Feasibility of the
Co-operative
Pricing and
Market Positioning
3.1 Will the enterprise be offering a service or produce a product or
goods? Please specify.
3.2 What is the expected demand for these goods or services? Please
specify.
3.3 Has a Feasibility plan been conducted for the enterprise? If yes,
please attach this document to your business plan.
Have the founding members discussed the Pricing & Positioning of these
services / goods in the market place? Please specify.
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 3
Proposed Start
Date
What is the planned start date / operational date of this enterprise?
Operational Plan
Are there manufacturing / services delivery plans in place at this stage?
Staffing & Training
Are there Staffing and Training Plan plans in place at this stage?
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 4
Funding
Requirements
What is the total funding requirements to deliver the proposed product or
service that the co-operative intend to deliver?
Members Input
What % of this funding will be provided by the members of the cooperative?
# Members
How many members have been canvassed to initially form the cooperative?
Members :
Financial
Contribution per
Member
What is the proposed financial input in terms of share capital by the
individual members in the co-operative?
Other Funding
Sources
Outline other sources of funding that are being sought or secured, e.g
grants etc.
Bank Funding
Has funding being sought or committed by a bank or other credit
institution? If yes, specify the name of the bank .
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 5
Please state other pertinent details or information relevant to this business plan
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 6
Contact
ICOS
The Plunkett House
84 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
Tel: + 353 (0)1 6764783
Fax: +353 (0)1 6624502
Email:[email protected]
Map
Linkedin
Twitter
Irish Co-operative
Organisation Society
ICOS_BXL
Website
www.icos.ie
ICOS, Starting a Co-operative – Business Plan
Page 7